After competing his move from Orlando Pirates to Chicago Fire, Mbekezeli Mbokazi will get to show off what he can do when he makes his official debut for his new club on February 22.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Media
Major League Soccer fans are about to learn about Mbekezeli Mbokazi, or as South Africans have come to know him, TLB.
At just 20, the former Orlando Pirates defender has arrived at Chicago Fire and is ready to make an impact in a league that is fast, physical, and increasingly competitive.
While the competition kicks off on February 22, most South Africans will have pencilled in July 23 already, which will potentially be his first game against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. Messi will likely miss that match, fresh off the World Cup, but the anticipation around Mbokazi is already intense. The two clubs will then face off again on September 10.
South Africans will remember Olwethu Makhanya holding his ground against Messi last year. Also aged just 20 at the time, Makhanya impressed with composure, intelligence, and fearless defending against a player widely regarded as the greatest to ever play the game.
It was a moment that proved South African defenders could compete at the highest level – and likely the moment Chicago Fire realised they needed a South African of their own.
Mbokazi brings a complete skill set of his own. Quick, agile, and tactically intelligent, he reads the game with precision and organises his backline with confidence. He can intercept passes, break up attacks, and initiate counters with smart distribution. On top of that, he has a left foot that can trouble even the best goalkeepers. Like a TLB, ikha ngemuva, ikhe ngaphambili.
“From the moment he came in, you could see his quality,” Chicago Fire defender Andrew Gutman was quoted as saying in the media. “He’s starting to express himself a little bit more, and you can just see that he’s going to be a very, very good player for us.”
Gutman, who shared a room with Mbokazi during their recent pre-season camp in Florida, also praised his character: “He’s incredible. I got to know him pretty well in Florida, we were actually roommates, so we kind of started to build that relationship.”
MLS is no longer a league where stars coast in their final years. It is fast, tactical, and fiercely competitive, and Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos should take note. Mbokazi’s debut in Chicago colours – against Houston Dynamo in two weeks – will give him the chance to settle into the pace of the league, while the clash against Messi – and Luis Suarez – promises to be the ultimate test.
If Makhanya impressed, Mbokazi has the potential to astonish. He has the talent, intelligence, and temperament to make an immediate impact. South African fans – and Broos, hopefully – will be watching closely as he stakes his claim abroad.
Mbokazi is not arriving quietly – he’s arriving to make a mark. If you thought Makhanya was impressive, get ready. Mbokazi is coming, and he may well redefine what it means to be a South African defender on the global stage.
IOL Sport
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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